FENDER PLAYERS CLUB
SKA GUITAR
From the book:
SKA GUITAR by Dale Turner #HL 695297. Book/CD Book/CD $14.95 (US).
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Late '70s Ska in England
THE ROLE OF THE RHYTHM SECTION IN BRITISH SKA Most tunes from ska’s British phase were played at moderately fast tempos (i.e., between 120– 120–152 bpm) and featured pop-inspired vocal hooks during the chorus. The guitar tones also diversified during this period (w/effects and slight distortion) due to the British pop influence. Meanwhile, the drums, with some exceptions, employed a more traditional rock feel.
MINOR CHORDS AND SIXTEENTH-NOTE SIXTEENTH-NOTE STRUMS Minor Chords One of the most easily distinguishable characteristics of late-seventies British ska is the occurrence of minor chords in a song’ song’s basic progression. In the key of C major, the minor chords are Dm (the “ii” ii”), Em (the “iii” iii”), and Am (the “vi” vi”). Harmonized C Major Scale:
C (I)
Dm(ii)
Em(iii)
F(IV)
G(V)
Am(vi)
B (vii)
minor chords
original barre chord
four-note derivatives (root position)
(w/ root on 6 )
Dm
Dm 10 fr
FOUR-NOTE MINOR CHORDS AND THEIR INVERSIONS Four-note chords still reigned supreme in late-seventies late-seventies British ska; however open-position open-position chords and other shapes were also incorporated. The voicings depicted at right are all of the four-note minor chord shapes you’ you’ll be playing in this segment.
134111
Em 10 fr
3111
12 fr
3111
5 fr
3111
= root original chord (w/ root on 4 )
Dm
four-note derivatives (1st inversion)
Dm
Em
Am 8 fr
231
3241
3241
3241
= root original barre chord
four-note derivatives (2nd inversion)
(w/ root on 5 )
AUDIO CLIP
Am
Dm
Dm 5 fr
13421
Em 5 fr
3421
Am 7 fr
3421
= root
12 fr
3421
BASIC SIXTEENTH-NOTE STRUM AND ii-V-I PROGRESSION Now that you’re well rehearsed at grooving with eighth notes, let ’s throw sixteenth notes into the equation! When strumming through the following figure, synchronize your pick hand to the sixteenth-note counting prompt “one-ee-and-uh, two-ee-and-uh, three-ee-and-uh, four-ee-and-uh,” slicing your pick through the strings on the “and-uh” portions of each beat. This next example cycles between Dm (the “ii”) and G (the “V”) chords in measures 5–8 before repeating back to the C chord (the “I”) in measures 1–4, outlining a ii–V–I progression (a common chord cycle in jazz).
AUDIO CLIP Moderate Ska
= 126
C strum:
etc.
count: “one ee and 8 8 9 10
uh, two ee and uh, threeee and uh, four ee and uh” etc. 8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
Dm
8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10
8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10
G
8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10
8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10
8 8 8 8 9 9 10 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
Dm
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
G
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
SIXTEENTH-NOTE STRUM VARIATION WTIH ii-V-I PROGRESSION In this variation of a ii– V–I
progression, beats “one” and “three” are strummed using the same sixteenth-note rhythm previously studied, while beats “two” and “four ” are strummed using straight eighths. Use the included counting/strumming indications as a guide. Moderately Fast Ska
AUDIO CLIP
= 132
C strum:
etc.
count: “one ee and 8 8 9 10
uh, two ee and uh, three ee and
uh, four ee and uh” etc.
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
Dm
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
G
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
10 10 10 12
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
C
10 10 10 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
10 12 12 12
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
8 8 9 10
I-vi-ii-V PROGRESSION WITH SIXTEENTH-NOTE STRUMMING VARIATION This next passage is strummed in the open position using a new combination of sixteenth notes and eighth notes. It also features a chord progression that cycles between C (the “I”), Am (the “vi”), Dm (the “ii”), and G (the “ V ”) chords, outlining a I–vi–ii–V progression (another common chord cycle in jazz).
Fast Ska
AUDIO CLIP
= 160
C
Am
strum:
etc.
count: “one ee and uh,two ee and uh, three ee and uh, four ee and uh” etc. 0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
0 1 0 2 3
Dm
1 3 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
G
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
1 3 2 0
3 3 0 0 2 3
0 1 2 2 0
0 1 2 2 0
play 4 times
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
3 3 0 0 2 3
